Leeds Film Night returns for its 2nd edition on 27th March 2025 at Hyde Park Picture House, bringing together independent filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts for a night celebrating indie cinema spotlighting South Asian stories and work from the Leeds City Region.
LFN supported by the BFI will showcase a powerful lineup of locally produced short films, guest speakers on filmmaking, networking opportunities, and a special screening of Footprints on Water, directed by Nathalia Syam featuring the very well known Adil Hussain (Life of Pi), Nimisha Sajayan (The Great Indian Kitchen), and Antonio Aakeel (Eternals)
Inspiration: Growing up, I often felt that my identity as a South Asian was excluded from the mainstream narrative, and stories from my community remained largely invisible or inauthentic. This sense of exclusion fueled my passion to create films that delve into themes of identity and culture, offering nuanced portrayals to inspire empathy and understanding.
However, I soon realised how few opportunities exist to bring these stories to life in front of the audiences they are meant to resonate with. This is why Leeds Film Night was created, to fill the absence of festivals and platforms dedicated to showcasing indie and culturally specific films, helping to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse UK film industry.
Event Highlights:
Exclusive Short Film Screenings made by Local Filmmakers / Filmmakers of South Asian Backgrounds
Guest Speakers – Insights into film funding and industry opportunities
Networking
Feature Film Screening & Filmmaker Q&A – Footprints on Water, a moving story of an undocumented immigrant’s struggle in the UK
– Short Film Screenings & Film Funding Workshops: https://hpph.co.uk/films/filmmaker-s-session
– Feature Film Screening & Filmmaker Q&A: https://hpph.co.uk/films/footprints-on-water
